Jake Frimeth, left, and Charles Carrier have committed to the Western Mustangs football program. Carrier was District 10 football's top award winner for the 2012 season. The John F. Ross Royals pair, seen here celebrating the team's title win this past season, join fellow D10 all-star Ron Nolan of the St. James Lions as locals who have committed to Western.

Football’s top star headed to Western

Mustangs have three Guelph gridiron all-stars committed to them this year

By Ned BekavacGuelph Tribune

The Royal City stars are aligning for the Western Mustangs football program.

Charles Carrier of the John F. Ross Royals, the top award winner of this past District 10 high school football season, has committed to the ’Stangs.

Western coach Greg Marshall is chuffed to have him.

“He’s athletic and he has played a lot of football. He can catch and carry the ball, and is a good returner as well,” says Marshall.

At the recent District 10 football awards banquet, Carrier was named winner of the Nick FitzGibbon Most Outstanding Player Award and also the Most Outstanding Offsensive Player honour.

The running back had 21 total touchdowns – rushing, receiving and punt returns included – and gained more than 1,000 yards rushing in the 2012 season for Ross, the District 10 champions.

Marshall, a Guelph native, got to see Carrier play in the fall when Ross took on Saugeen in the CWOSSA semifinals at the University of Guelph’s Alumni Stadium.

He’s also seen him suit up for the Guelph Bears, and has had family coach him along the way. Marshall says it’s nice to have such connections in Guelph.

Carrier is one of three District 10 football all-stars from this past season to commit to the Mustangs.

Ross teammate Jake Frimeth is also headed to Western, as is Ron Nolan of the St. James Lions.

Frimeth, an all-star receiver, is no stranger to Marshall.

Frimeth’s dad, Jack, is an assistant coach at Western.

Marshall and Jack coached together at McMaster back in the day and Marshall recalls Jake zipping around the McMaster field as a youngster more a decade and a half ago.

The Western head coach said that underneath Jake’s football helmet lies a wonderful mind for the sport.

“He’s a football player. He knows the game,” said Marshall, a former CFLer who is a member of the Guelph Sports Hall of Fame.

He says Frimeth will get even better in university because high school football is generally “run first,” whereas the ball is aired out much more in the university game.

Nolan, an all-star linebacker who committed to Western late last year after being on the verge of comitting to Laurier, is a workhorse, says Marshall.

“He’s big, strong and athletic and has a tremendous work ethic,” said the coach.

“He’s only going to get better and better, and I’m impressed with his attitude and work ethic.”

Marshall is asked about having an all-star trio headed his way from his hometown.

“Guelph is doing a great job,” he said of the Gryphons, adding that they can just as easily say: “Yeah we got these good kids from London.”

He says teams, of course, would love to have their hometown stars stay home, but that’s just not always a reality.

“You realize that with some of these kids, they want a different experience,” said Marshall.